Chapter 20: How To Overthrow A King

The training ground was silent except for the scrape of Meguri’s shoes against the mat.

She paced in a slow circle around Taichi and Hayama, arms folded tight, brow furrowed in thought. Kodaka had confirmed Taichi’s Rank #2 status. Immediately, Taichi sent in the request.

His duel with Natsu was set for tomorrow

“So,” Meguri said at last, stopping in front of Taichi. “How do we get you to beat Natsu when he has so many win conditions?”

“Win conditions?” Taichi asked.

“Oh — like a game,” Hayama said, snapping his fingers. “It’s a set of events that need to take place for you to secure victory before your opponent fulfills all of their events.”

Meguri pointed at him. “Exactly. See? I like this guy.”

Taichi nodded.

“Natsu’s got too many win conditions,” Meguri continued. “Too many ways to win. Drain your stamina. Lock you out with range. Outplay you up close. You can’t afford any of those. To win, you need to be able to get close AND outplay him while you’re there.”

Taichi’s eyes sharpened.

“I can do that.”

“How do you figure that?” Hayama asked.

“Because I have a pretty good Natsu simulator right in front of me to train against,” Taichi said. “And you two are going to recreate the attack he used against Asumi until I escape it.”

Hayama hesitated. “You sure?”

Taichi nodded firmly.

Meguri’s jaw tightened.

“…Fine.”

They took their positions.

Hayama’s mana began rushing through the arena as he pushed his water around Taichi, forcing it to rush inward at his waist. It was difficult to move despite having seen the attack before.

Hayama clenched his fist, controlling the flow carefully.

Meguri stood frozen.

“Meguri, do it,” Taichi said.

“But I…”

“Do it!” Taichi yelled.

Meguri’s hands were trembling aggressively as she swallowed, then released a pulse of lightning into the water.

Agony ripped through Taichi’s body. His muscles seized violently, vision flashing white as he cried out despite himself.

“Taichi!” Meguri gasped.

“Who said to stop attacking?!” Taichi yelled.

“I…” Meguri stammered.

She didn’t know what to do.

Taichi forced himself to move, dragging against the water, brute-forcing his way free through sheer will. He staggered forward, breathing hard, eyes blazing.

“Why did you stop?!” Taichi yelled, approaching Meguri aggressively.

Hayama stepped between them instantly, slamming a wave of water into Taichi and knocking him back.

“Oh, you want to go again?” Taichi asked, ready to rush at him.

“What the hell is wrong with you, man?” Hayama asked, pointing at Meguri.

Her eyes were full of tears, dripping down her face with each word coming from Taichi.

“I joined your fight against Natsu because I thought you were a stand-up guy… what are you doing to the person you’re calling your friend?!” Hayama yelled. “If this is what you really are, then count me out of this.”

“Wait…” Taichi whispered, but it was too late.

Hayama left.

Meguri was standing there, trying and failing to wipe her tears away.

“It’s fine, I’ll go get him, I’ll… I know it’s… I know…”

Taichi’s shoulders dropped at the sight.

Meguri started running out the door with her head down, but Taichi intercepted her – standing still as she bumped into him and stood still.

“I just watched my best friend get tortured…” Meguri muttered, her voice huffy between the tears as her head collapsed on his chest. “I know you’re doing what you think is necessary to get revenge for her, and I know you’re just as mad at Natsu as I am, but… I can’t do what you’re asking me to do. You’re my friend, and… I’ll spar with you all you want, I’ll fight with you, but… I can’t turn you into a punching bag. I can’t torture you. I can’t be like Natsu.”

“I know,” Taichi whispered, wrapping his arms around her. “I’m sorry I forced you to do that. I’m sorry I got so mad at you. After seeing him do that to Asumi… I… I… well, I got mad, y’know? And I wanted to be prepared in case he used that move against me as well, but… I get it. I know how hard it is to watch. I’m sorry. I’ll figure out a way to beat Natsu without that, okay?”

Meguri nodded softly.

“I will do whatever I can to prepare you to beat the crap out of that bastard,” Meguri said, her fists clenching. “But I can’t re-experience that.”

“Yeah… and I won’t make you.”

“…Good.”

A voice cleared from the doorway as Hayama stepped back in.

“I never actually left.”

“Didn’t think you did,” Taichi smirked. “Anyway, escaping that trap made me realize something — brute force with my current techniques won’t do the trick against Natsu. I need to learn something new, but I’m not sure if I can do it overnight. Despite that, can you help me try?”

Hayama and Meguri smiled at each other and nodded.

“Of course,” they said in unison.

They trained until exhaustion.

And Taichi failed.

Again.

And again.

Over and over and over, he failed.

“One more-“ Taichi uttered before receiving a ping on his phone.

Somebody entered his bedroom.

He froze.

“Asumi should still be in the infirmary… it might be the suits,” Taichi thought, putting down his shinai and getting ready to leave.

“Suits?” Hayama asked trailing after him, followed by Meguri.

“Y’know those people who are sitting in the audience for all the Top Ten tournaments? We saw them enter Tadokoro Shoko’s room and take her stuff,” Meguri explained.

She continued explaining the situation to Hayama en route to Taichi’s dorm, rushing up the stairs with a fearful fervor.

Taichi immediately took out his dorm key and tapped it against the door, crashing through it.

“Taichi?” Asumi muttered from bed behind the divider.

“…Asumi?” Taichi whispered.

Without waiting for a further response, he opened the divider to see her sitting on the edge of her bed like her bones had been replaced with glass. Her hair was messy. Her eyes were tired. But she was upright.

“Asumi…” he repeated.

“Oh, they let you out of the infirmary already? That was fast,” Meguri cheerfully remarked.

“Well… them ‘letting me out’ is relative, isn’t it?” Asumi said, chuckling a little.

“You just left, huh?” Meguri said.

“Kind of-“

Asumi was completely cut off by Taichi hugging her tightly.

“Taichi, Taichi, it still hurts…” Asumi groaned, tapping his arm repeatedly.

Taichi’s hug softened, but he stayed wrapped around her.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Taichi whispered, his breathing heavier than his words.

“Come on, don’t be an idiot — the mats prevent any irreparable harm, remember?” Asumi whispered, softly hugging him back.

“Hayama, we’re leaving,” Meguri whispered, dragging him out of the dorm room, leaving the two of them alone.

Not another word from her.

A few seconds passed.

“Taichi…”

“Just a little longer,” Taichi whimpered, his arms still wrapped around her.

“Taichi…” Asumi pushed a little bit.

It was not hard enough to get Taichi off, but enough for him to get the message and release his grip.

“Thank you… but…” a soft blush crawled up her face.

She would’ve been fine staying that way forever — but that isn’t what she needed to say. It wouldn’t help.

“You have something to do, don’t you, Taichi?” Asumi said, her fingers tightening around her blanket. “As much as I want to, I can’t help you train right now… Natsu’s strong. I gave it everything I had in my fight against him, and I couldn’t do anything to win. But you… you need to win.”

“Yeah…” Taichi nodded. “I’ll win. I swear.”

“And don’t ever let him forget this loss.”

“It’ll haunt him forever.”

Asumi clenched her fist and stared up at Taichi.

“And then…” Asumi started before whispering inaudibly.

“Wait, why would you ask me to do that?” Taichi asked, his eyes widening with terror. “That’s not right! I can’t do that!”

“I know, Taichi…” Asumi reassured him, continuing to whisper into his ear.

“Why are you whispering like this?!” Taichi asked anxiously, only replied with more whispering.

Taichi clenched his fist tightly, hearing what Asumi had to say.

“…then I really have to do it, huh?”

Asumi nodded.

“Fine. I’ll do it,” Taichi reluctantly agreed. “If that’s really what’s happening, then I’ll do it.”

“Good luck, Taichi — I’ll be watching the fight tomorrow whether the doctors approve or not.”

“I expect nothing less from you,” Taichi chuckled hesitantly.

She laid down on her bed, grunting in pain as her head fell to her pillow.

“Go get ‘em.”

Taichi left the room, storming off back to the training hall where Meguri and Hayama were waiting for her.

“Welcome back, Taichi — were you properly recharged by your girlfriend’s loving embrace?” Meguri teased.

“Let’s get back to training,” Taichi said, completely ignoring Meguri’s comment. “I can do it.”

“Oh?” Hayama cracked his neck as the air became charged with his mana. “Let’s see it then.”

…

The next day finally came, and once again, class was cancelled for a Top Ten duel.

The arena filled until it vibrated. Students packed the stands like cattle.

Asumi sat with Meguri and Hayama, wrapped in a light jacket that didn’t hide how pale she still was.

“Do you two think he can really beat Natsu based on his training yesterday?” Asumi asked.

“Well…” Meguri chuckled nervously, scratching the back of her head.

“What’s going on?”

“Um…” Hayama started. “Hayato’s full prowess wasn’t really on complete display to us. He spent the entire day practicing one technique.”

“What was the technique?” Asumi asked, unfazed.

“You’ll see it… I’m certain,” Meguri smirked.

Kodaka walked to the center of the field.

“Do y’all just hate my class or something? Is that it? Am I such a bad teacher that you people would rather go through the pain of fighting Natsu than attend my class?” Kodaka complained.

“Hey, it ain’t my fault, Kodaka Sensei – the brand new Rank #2 challenged me — I couldn’t refuse!” Natsu said. “Snow Princess can’t fight her own battles anymore?”

Taichi quietly grabbed his shinai and vest, only responding with a scornful gaze.

“Gee, somebody’s not as jolly – what’s wrong? Is your girlfriend still on bedrest?” Natsu asked.

“Oh, no she isn’t… she’s in the crowd eager to watch me wipe the floor with you,” Taichi said with a malignant grin.

From the crowd, a quiet yell of “I’m not his girlfriend” could be heard echoing.

“Guess she really is in the crowd,” Natsu smirked. “Unfortunately, today’s the last day I’ll be able to duel for a while, so you’re gonna have to find another way to fulfill your masochistic urges for a while.”

“I won’t be challenging you again, Natsu. There’s no need to worry about that,” Taichi said coldly, doing his 10 paces before Kodaka said the word.

His pendant brushed against his chest as he stared Natsu down from his distance.

“I’ll win here.”

“Okay transfer student…” Natsu muttered, taking his 10 paces. “It’s on.”

Kodaka smirked.

“I think we can skip the formalities then. Three, two, one, fight!”